Rafael Silva came to Georgia Tech in the fall of 2014 and is in his fourth
year with the Yellow Jackets’ volleyball program.

Silva came to Tech after spending 2013-14 as the director of Instinct
Volleyball Club Jacksonville where he served as the head coach of the 15U
team and as assistant coach for the 14U team. His 14U Team won the Big
South National Qualifier, finished second at the Disney Showcase and
qualified for Junior Nationals. The 15U Team also qualified for Junior
Nationals.

Before he joined Instinct Volleyball Club, he sustained a great
professional playing career in Europe.

Living in the USA since 2008, Silva spent two years working with the Tampa
Bay Juniors Volleyball Club as a head coach for the boys and girls
programs. His boys’ team won the AAU’s National Championships in 2009 and
finished third in the country also at the AAU’s national event in 2010.
During the fall of 2009 and 2010, Silva worked as an assistant coach at
Berkeley Prep High School, helping the girls’ team to a 29-3 mark and a 3A
state championship in 2009 and helping the boys’ team to a ranking of
second in the district.

Before his start in coaching, Silva was a standout pro volleyball player in
his native country of Brazil, as well as Spain, Portugal and Italy. He has
played with and against top players in the world during his professional
career.

During his 2003-04 season at Tarragona Volleyball Club in Barcelona, Spain,
he helped the squad to a top-five finish in the Spanish Division I League
while ranking in the top 10 in scoring, digs, blocks and points. He also
played with the Vigo Valery Karplin group in Vigo, helping them to a top-10
spot in the Spanish Division I League while serving as team captain and top
scorer. He also competed in European Championship Tournaments in Portugal
and Italy.

Silva also has an extensive knowledge of beach volleyball. Growing up in
the sands of Rio de Janeiro, he has competed at national level tournaments
against Olympic level players.

Silva is married to Georgia Tech head coach Michelle Collier, and the
couple has two children, Tais and Rafael.